US President-elect Donald Trump is anticipated to further strengthen relations with India, building on the progress made during his first term, according to Lisa Curtis, his former senior South Asia policy expert. Curtis, who served as Trump’s director for South and Central Asia from 2017 to 2021, emphasized Trump’s goodwill toward India and his close connection with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In an interview with PTI, Curtis expressed confidence in Trump’s commitment to India, stating, “I believe President Trump will continue where he left off with India. He has clear goodwill toward the country, and this presents an opportunity to deepen and solidify the partnership.” During Trump’s first term, US-India ties strengthened significantly as the two countries aligned closely to counter China’s influence in the region.
Curtis highlighted the mutual respect shared by Trump and Modi, which was visible in major events, such as Modi’s address to 50,000 people in Houston and Trump’s address to 100,000 people in Ahmedabad. She credited this relationship with advancing key milestones, including lifting technology controls on India, facilitating India’s purchase of armed drones, and initiating the Quad alliance, comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia.
While Curtis acknowledged a few potential challenges that might arise, particularly around trade issues, she noted that Trump’s second term would likely focus on solidifying the foundation established earlier. Although Trump had occasionally voiced concerns over Indian tariffs, Curtis believes both sides now better understand his transactional style and are prepared to advance trade and security cooperation.
